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Mundus Masterplan

Document guide

Proof of residence

An official certificate of where you live, often required from scholarship applicants and usually with a strict issue-date window.

What it is

An official certificate stating your place of residence, issued by a public authority such as a municipality, local government office, police or civil registry, depending on your country.

Why programmes ask for it

Under Erasmus Mundus scholarship rules, residence can affect eligibility and how a consortium applies its scholarship conditions. Programmes therefore ask scholarship applicants to prove where they have lived. Some ask all applicants; others only scholarship applicants (EMHRPP, MESPOM, NOHA+) or only at the final stage (MUrCS).

Who issues it

A public authority in the country where you live. What counts varies by country; the programme may publish a list or its own form (M3EP uses its own form).

What it usually contains

Your name, address, the issuing authority, the date of issue, and an official stamp or verification.

How to prepare it

  1. Check the date window. Most programmes in our sample require issue within 12 months before the deadline (EACH, EMLE, EUROPHOTONICS, IFROS, LASCALA, SPACEMED, STRAINS); emPLANT+ says within the year before applying; EMHRPP and NOHA+ count from the scholarship deadline. Do not get it too early.
  2. Check what is not accepted. EMLE states a passport is not proof of residence; NOHA+ excludes IDs, passports and utility bills.
  3. Translation. ESWOCHY asks for a certified English translation. Others may too.
  4. Ask the programme what to submit if your country does not issue residence certificates, and keep the reply.
  5. If you recently moved country, ask how the programme treats your residence history before you apply.

Common mistakes

  • A certificate issued outside the date window.
  • Submitting a utility bill, passport or ID instead of an official certificate.
  • No translation where one is required.

Quality-control checklist

  • Issued by a public authority.
  • Issue date inside every programme's window.
  • Translated where required.
  • Programme form used where one exists.

Lead time (planning estimate)

A few days to three weeks, plus translation time. Time it to fall inside every programme's window.

Commonly useful or programme-dependent?

Common for scholarship applicants. The date window, accepted forms and who must submit it are programme-dependent.